Visit Tlemcen

The world's largest car-free old city.

Ancient Islamic city of 82 mosques, where hyenas are fed by hand at night.

Faded Ottoman-Italian Red Sea port.

Rumi's tomb and the whirling dervishes, the Seljuk capital in the middle of Anatolia.

The city of saints: blue-tiled Sufi shrines and the hottest summers in the subcontinent.

Ancient fortified towns of the Mzab.

Visit Constantine, Algeria's historic city built on dramatic cliffs. Explore the Sidi M'Cid Bridge (one of the highest bridges in Africa, spanning the Rhumel Gorge), see the Palace of Ahmed Bey (19th-century Ottoman-era palace with intricate mosaics and gardens), and wander the Casbah (ancient fortified medina with narrow alleys and traditional markets).

Visit Oran, Algeria's second-largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Explore the Santa Cruz Fortress (a 16th-century Spanish citadel with panoramic views), see the Great Mosque of Oran (a historic Ottoman-era landmark), stroll along the waterfront promenade, and experience the local culture at the Ahmed Zabana National Museum (showcasing regional art and history).